, 1887-06-26
A RAILWAY MAGkATE.
Vice President Potter Pays chey-
enne a Brisf Visit.
Closing His Tour Of Inspection on
the Northern.
What He Thinks About the Union
Pacific Affairs.

I. J. Potter, first vice president and
general manager of the Union Pacific rail-
way, arrived in this city at 6 o'clock yes
terdsy morning, and shortly after pro-
ceeded over the Cheyenne & Northern,
returning at 3 O'Clock in the afternoon.
He was accompanied by G.. III. Cum
ming, assistant general manager; +
Dickinson, assistant general superintend-
ent; j. j. Burns, supply agent; v. u.
Bogue, chief engineer, and G.. Il. Wur-
tele, superintendent of the Wyoming d.
vision OF the Union Pacific. The latter
gentlemen joined the party at Salt Lake
City, while the remainder Of the officials
hail from various points, General Man
ager Potter having spent the past two
months at Portland, Ore.
DIR. Potter, the man who nov practI-
cally controls the entire Union Pacific sys-
TEN, was seen By q representative of THE
LEADER Immediately after his return
from the terminus Of the Cheyenne Il
Northern, and said in answer to an inquiry
that the trip had been made simply for
the purpose of inspecting the road and
had been q highly satisfactory one; that
the motive and mechanical departments
we're all that could be desired. but that
as had been reported, some changes would
be made in the clerical force employed by
the company. Why" said the manager
in q n in;uraS fona tt;t ~ .oLo, ,ora..l
hours Of united labor on the part of half a
dozen clerks and bookkeepers to send a
keg of spikes to a section foreman twenty
miles away. | am a practical man my
self, having risen from the ranks, and am
strictly opposed to red tapeism. / pro
pose, if possible. to remedy this evil, and
believe that it can be done. / found ex-
actly the same state of affairs in operation
when l took charge of the Chicago. Bur
lington & Quincy, but killed the system
in less than a year. 1t has been my ex.
p~erience that when the majority of men
assume a position better than that of con
ductor, they at once get an idea that it is
injurious to the health to work more than
an hour or two per day. Now, this is all
wrong. AS a rule a man in the railroad
business has no actual capital invested.
His brain and hands are his only liabili-
ties. He receives liberal pay for the use
of these, and should use them literally"
DO you think, Mr.. Potter, that the
Union Pacific will build any new lines
this yesr?"
No, l hardly think they will, though
several are contemplated and a few sur
veyed. As you have probably heard we
are interested in the Wyoming coal and
oil fields, and may do more track laying
in this territory during the present season
than is anticipated. l am we'll pleased
with the country the cheyenne & North
ern passes through, and think that line
will eventually prove a profitable one. At
present l can tell you no more about that
line than you have already heard"
The conductor of the special shouted
"All aboard for Kansas City" just as the
reporter was framing another question to
fire at the Union Pacific mogul, and the
latter swung on the steps of the coach
alter the manner OF the careless brake
man.
Dir, Potter is a sardy haired. smooth
faced man, apparently about 40 years of
age. He talks quite rapidly, interspers-
ing his conversation with occasional slang
phrases used by railroad men, and is gem
tlemanly and courteous. BE expressed
himself as greatly surprised at the evil
dent prosperity of Cheyenne, and hoped
that he might again visit the city and be-
come acquainted with It's people. Alter
remaining In Kansas City a few days the
party will proceed to Omaha.